The Forum for Parliamentarians for Nuclear Disarmament
was opened by Hiromichi Umebayashi, founder and president of Peace Depot,
Mr. Umebayashi spoke of the aim of the forum to generate dialogue between
parliamentarians from different countries and between parliamentarians
and civil society, Speaking of the strong public support for disarmament
in Japan, Mr. Umebayashi hoped that be bridging the gap between parliamentarians
and civil society, grater progress on nuclear disarmament could occur.

Alyn Ware, Global Coordinator for the Parliamentary Network
for Nuclear Disarmament(PNND), spoke of the important role of parliamentarians
to shape policy, build government accountability and ensure disarmament
obligations are implemented, He introduced the forum to the PNND, an international
network of over 250 parliamentarians in 40 countries helping parliamentarians
engage in nuclear disarmament issues and in international disarmament
arenas.

Canadian Senator Douglas Roche, chair of the Middle Powers
Initiative which established the PNND, spoke about the power of engagement
between civil society and parliamentarians, giving the positive example
of the Canadian nuclear policy consultation process which occurred following
the International Court of Justice's 1996 decision on the illegality of
the threat or use of nuclear weapons. The consultation involving the Canadian
Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs and a series of roundtables
in 18 cities across Canada including a cross section of civil society,
successfully moved the government to initiate a NATO nuclear policy review
process; Senator Roche also spoke about the importance of the New Agenda
Coalition program for nuclear disarmament- that proposed by Brazil, Egypt
Ireland Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa and Sweden- and the roles parliamentarians
could play in supporting this at the Unit8d Nations and at the Non-Proliferation
Treaty Review Conference.

New Zealand MP Keith Locke spoke of the vital role New
Zealand parliamentarians played in New Zealand becoming a nuclear weapons
free zone. He also spoke about the
role parliamentarians can play to establish a southern hemisphere and
adjacent areas nuclear weapon free zone.

Mr. Tsuneo Suzuki, Japanese member of parliament (LDP)
and President of the Japan section' of PNND, reported on the formation
of PNND in Japan in July 2002 and announced that he would be inviting
new parliamentary members to join PNND once the Diet is reopened. He spoke
about pressures within the Japanese parliament to amend the peace articles
in the Japanese constitution and how it is important to maintain the spirit
of peace in the constitution. He noted the importance of the New Agenda
Coalition program of action and said that he would encourage parliamentary
support for this.

Mr. Masaharu Nakagawa, Japanese member of parliament (Democratic
Party) spoke about the importance of the Non-Proliferation Treaty and
about steps that should be taken for nuclear disarmament. He said that
Japan should work together with other middle power countries in the United
Nations in order to increase influence on the nuclear weapons states.
In particular, he recommended that Japan should support the New Agenda
Coalition and that the NAC Program should be discussed in the Diet. He
also expressed support for a North East Asian nuclear weapon free zone.

There were a number of questions. and comments from the
audience including from Hideo Tsuchiyama, Chairman of the Organising Committee
of the Nagasaki Assembly for the Elimination of Nuclear weapons, and from
[?] a former member of the Diet.

The topics included depleted uraniur1 participation in
the war against Iraq, parliamentary involvement in UN resolutions, parliamentary
involvement in regional security particularly, concerning, North Korea,
the New Agenda Coalition's program for disarmament and the relationship
between Parliamentary Network for Nuclear Disarmament and the Mayors,
for Peace campaign.

In the responses, Mr. Nakagawa emphasized that there is
considerable opposition to the unilateralist approach of the United States
and that the tide which has until now being very negative towards unilate1alism
and coalition actions, is now starting to change towards multilateralism
and international law.

Mr. Suzuki noted that, Japan has the potential to develop
nuclear weapons but that there is strong opposition to this. He noted
that the Diet needs to discuss nuclear weapons issues more, particularly
proposals for nuclear disarmament such as the New Agenda proposals.

Mr. Locke noted that US public supports bolt disarmament
efforts of other countries and in the case of New Zealand, helped to ensure
that threats of trade, and political repercussions from the -US government
against New Zealand's adoption, of a nuclear free status did not eventuate.
Thus, if Japan was to move more boldly on nuclear disarmament, they would
also likely receive strong support form US citizens. Mr. Locke also listed
ways in which parliamentarians can build accountability from governments
to ensure they act for nuclear disarmament- these ways including inviting
the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Disarmament to report
to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, asking questions in parliament,
holding parliamentary reviews of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (and
other government departments) and establishing a public advisory committee
on disarmament as has been done in New Zealand.

Senator Roche emphasized the importance of Ja9an cooperating
with middle power countries, such as Canada and the New Agenda Coalition.
He stressed the urgency of taking action on nuclear disarmament to prevent
a nuclear disaster and concluded that the time to act is now.